Safety device for hot-blast stoves



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Patented Apr. 17, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY PHELPS HOWLAND AND FRANK ALBERT WILEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO INTERNATIONAL Iii-IBN'lFS'IERl COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY. i

.SAFETY DEVICE FOR HOT-BLAST STOVES.

Application led .Tune 27', 1918. Serial No. 242,325.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that we, HENRY P. HowLAND and FRANK A. WILEY, citizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, and of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new' and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Hot-Blast Stoves, of which the following is l0 a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to safety devices y for air blast furnaces and more particularly to safety devices used in connection with hot blast stoves which are employed to heat the air for the blast in operating blast furnaces.

All blast furnaces require air blasts for their operation; the air is forced into the furnace at the bottom against the resistance caused by the materials to be melted with whichthe furnace is lled. This air after performing its function of burning the coke in the furnace, passes out at the top in the form of gas. Since the materials in the furnaces offer considerable resistance to the passage of air, blowing engines 'are required to force the air through the furnace at a considerable pressure, the pressure often reaching thirty pounds per square inch.

In the air circuit between the blowing Aengine and the blast furnace a set of hot blast stoves is interposed in order to heat the air before it reaches the furnace. These stoves usually consist of a cylindrical steel shell filled with brick checker-work and passages. The brick work in the interior of the hot blast stove is brought to an intense heat by means of the gas which passes out of the blast' furnace and when the stove has been heated to a sufliciently high tem- 40 perature, the hot gases from thc blast furnace are diverted from the stove which has been heated, to one of the cold stoves, and fthe heated stove is used to heat the air passing from the blowing engine to the furnace. To keep the air continually hot it is necessary to change stoves whenever the one in use becomes cool, due to the cooling effect of the air passing through it. The usual practice is to employ four hot blast fstove's for each blast furnace in order that one ofthe stoves may be always maintained lat a sufficient temperature to heat the air,

From theabove descriptionit will be seen that "one or more blowing engines are em ployed to force the air through the blast furnace, and that a plurality of hot blast stoves is interposed between the engine or engines and the furnace. Valve mechanism is provided in connection with each stove to regulate the passage of air from the engine to the stove and also the passage of the hot gases from the furnace to the stove. From actual experience it has been found that operators. through carelessness, sometimes close the inlet valve for the stove that has been in use, before opening the inlet valve for one of the other stoves that he proposes to use, thereby shutting off all the exits from the cold blast main and placing the engine in danger of being wrecked.

lVith the above description in mind the object of the invention now under consideration is to safeguard the process of changing stoves, by providing an apparatus in which the passage from the blowing engine to one of the stoves must be always maintained open, or in other words, by means of which the closing of all of the inlet valves from the engine to the hot blast stoves is prevented. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the controlling mechanism for each of the valves in the circuit between the engine and the hot blast stove. includes an electric circuit in which there is provided a solenoid which controls the closing and opening of the valves. We have illustrated one embodiment of our invention in the accompanying drawings, and in these drawings," y

Figure l is an elevational view showing the blowing` engine, the hot blast stoves and the blast furnace, and the air conducting pipes to and from the various parts of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section, showing the valve mechanism and the ccnl trolling and actuating means therefor;

Fig. is a sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 2;

Fig. Llis a plan view on an enlarged scale showing thc valve mechanism;

Fi 5 is a sectional view showing the construction of the solenoid; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing' and between this engine 10 and the blast furnace 11 a series of hot blast stoves 12, 13, 14 and 15 is interposed. A pipe 16 forms the cold blast main or header and is connected by branches 17, 18, 19 and 2O to the stoves 12 to 15 inclusive. The air after being heated passes out ot the pipes 21, 22, 23 and 24 to a hot blast main 25, which leads to the tuyeres of the blast furnace.

lt will ot course be understood that in the operation of this apparatus the stoves are not all used simultaneously, but that the cold blast is passed through one ot the stoves, tor instance stove 12, and passes out of its exit pipe 21 to the hot blast main ln connection with. each of the hot blast stoves there is interposed between the cold blast main and the stove a valve 26 which is controlled by a` hand wheel 27, these valves being similar i'or all oit the stoves.

in the showing' in the accompanying drawings we have illustrated the ordinary horizontal nate valve. the details oi' the construetion beingl shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. This valve has a circular plate 28 which is slidably mounted on a circular seat 29 secured to the inlet conduit, and in its closed position the plate 28 entirely closes the passage into the hot blast stove. There is slidably mounted on the top ot the plate 28 a rack 8O which is guided by overlapping retainingy lugs 31. There are formed integral with the rack 30 outwardly extending' lugs 32 which in t-he closed position of the rack are superposed over openings 38 in the valve plate. As the rack is retracted in order t0 open the valve, it moves independently of the valve disk 28 Auntil the lugs 32 on the rack engage the overlapping lugs 81 carried by the valve plate, and after this engagement the rack and the plate move to valve opening' position simultaneously. As the lugs 32 are moved in a direction to open the valve, they uncover the apertures 38 in the plate 28 and admit to the stoves a small portion ot the air blast from the engine, the purpose ot this construction being to prevent too sudden a change in the load on the engine and equalizing` the pressure on the two sides ot the valve. llien the valve is to be closed the hand wheel 27 will be rotated counterclockwise (Fig. which will first cause the rack 30 to travel to the right to close the apertures Then the apertures are fully closed the depending' lug 30 on the rack will engage the valve disk 28 so that continued movement ot the rack will slide the disk on its seat 29 into closed position.

The rack 80 above described is operated by means of a pinion 34 secured to a shaft which is operated. by means ot the hand wheel 27. The safety device tor the prevention ot the closing ot all of the inlet valves for the hot blast stoves when the pumping' :engine is in operation, is operatively .con

nected to the hand wheel 27 by the manipulation of which the valve 26 is operated.

Upon each hand wheel there is secured band 87 circular in outline and having on its outer periphery a notch 38 and on its inner periphery an inwardly projecting' lug An L-shaped bracket 40 is secured to the casing of the valve, tho vertical portion of this bracket having secured thereto a casting 41 and a supplementary bracket/42. The casting 41 carries a controlling switch tor an electric circuit hereinafter described, and the supplementary bracket 42 has pivoted thereto a locking member or latch 43 which normally rests on the outer periphery ot' the band 37. The locking member is pivotall)T connected intermediate its ends to a sott iron core 44 of a. solenoid 45, the latter being supported on the horizontal portion oi' the l.-shaped bracket 40. The electric switch 46 supported on the casting- 41 is made up oft a tired. member 46 and a pivoted member' 47, an outwardly projecting: arm 48 being also pivoted to the castingf 41 and resting` on member 47.' A spring' 49 is interposed between the lined member 46 and the pivoted member 47 ot the switch and normally forces the pivotod member 47 and the arm 48 upwardly against the inner periphery ot the band 37 in a position to be engaged by the lug 39. Each ot the inlet valves used in connection with the hot blast stoves is similar' to that above described and there't'ore one description will sutlice.

The electrical connections 'tor the solenoids will now be described, and attention is di-v rected to Fig. 6 wherein the valve actuating' wheel 27 is shown in connection with one of the solenoids in order to illustrate the construction, and it should be understood that this mechanism is also used in connection with the other solenoids, a single showing in this figure ot the valve actuating wheel being; suiiicient.

ln the embodiment of the invention illustrated four solenoids 45. 45, 45h, and 45c and tour switches 46, 46u, 46h, and 46c are shown. although oi course, this number can be varied it a larger or smaller battery o'l hot stoves is used. rPhe electric circuits which are utilized in carryingf out my invention may he traced in detail by reference to. 6 wherein a line wire 50 leads troni the main line terminal B to one side ot aparallel circuit including branch wires 5l. 51, 51h. and Si?. These branch wires are connected in parallel with each other and include switches 46. 46a. 46 and 46C. The other side ot this parallel circuit is formed by a wire 52 which in turn. is connected to a wire 58. A. line wire 54 leads from the opposite main line terminal A and is connected through branch wires 55, 55a. 55", and 55C, to solenoids A45. 45a. 45, and 45C, these solenods and. branch being-connected mechanism out of commission vvhen the air one time when the air compressingr means is in operation. Means have also been provided for throwing the valve regulating compressor is not operatinli'i and the furnace is shutl down; I

While We have in the above specii'ication defined one embodiment which our intention Vmay assume it should be understood that the invention is capable of modification and that modifications may be employee Without departing from the spirit and scope of thein- 'veii'tion as expressed bythe folleWina;- claims l. In combinatiommeans for* creating a blast' of air, a plurality of means for heating said blast, valve mechanism interposed between said blast creating means and each of said blast heat-ing means for regulating the passage of said blast to said heating means, means for controlling sai-:5l valves in suoli a manner that one of said valves mustl be open closed.,` n

2. In combination, means for creating a blast of aiia plurality of means for lieating said blast, valve mechanism interposed between said blast creating iiieans and each before the other valves can be of said blast heating means for reguiating the passage of said blast to said uheating means, and means including an electric cir-` cuit for controlling said valves in such a manner thlatone of said valves must be open f before the remaining valves can be closed.

3. In combination, means for creating a blast of air, a plurality of means for heating saidv blast, valve mechanism interposed between said blast'creating means and each of said blast heating means for regulating" the passage of said blast to said heating means, actuating means for said valve mechanism including a rotatable member, and

means for preventing the rotation of oneof said actuating means in a predetermined direction-until one or more of the remaining'actuating means has been rotated in the opposite direction to a predetermined de-y gree. i i

4. In combination` ymeans for creating a blast of air, a plurality of means for heating said blast, valve mechanism interposed between said blast creating mea-ns and said *blastheating means for regulating the pas# sage of said blast to said heatingmeans, ac-k tuating means for said valve mechanism including a rotatable member, and eleetrically controlled means for determiningl the degree of rotation of said rotatable 'member in a predetermined direction.

5. In valve controlling mechanism, a rotatable memberA having a notched portion, a` pivoted member adapted to seat in said vnotched portion, means including an electric circuit for determining the postion 0f said pivoted member, and means vfopei'able by said rotatable member for controlling said electric circuit.

6. In eombinatioma plurality of valves, independent actuating mechanisms for said valves, and controlling means foreach of said actuating mechanismsffor preventing the operation of one of saidmechanisms to *close one of said valves unless fone or more of the lremainiifig valves is open.

7; Incombin-ation,` a plurality of valves, actuating mechanisms for said valves, and electrical controlling means for preventing `tlieoperation of one' of said mechanisms to close one of said valves unless one or more oi" the :remaining valves is open.

j S In combination, a plurality of valves, means for actuating' each of said valves, a

Alocking member for each of said actuating `means, and means including an electric circuit for throwing said locking members out of position when' one of said valves is i opened.

EL In combination, a plurality of valves, means for operatinff each of said valves a y,locking `member for locking each of said `valves against movement in a predetermined direction, and controlling mechanism for each of said loclringdiieans set in operation by the movement of one of vsaidvalves in a direction opposite lto said first mentioned direction.- f

l0. In combination, a plurality of valves,

means for operating each of said valves, a

pivoted latch for preventing the actuation of each of' said operating means, means including an electric circuit for lifting said latch, and a switch in said circuit adapted to be closed upon the actuation of said valve operating means in a predetermined direction. 11.-' In combination, a plurality of valves,f

means for operating' each` of said'ii'alves and `including ay rotatable member, a pivoted locking member for eachofsaid rotatable members for preventing the rotation thereof in predetermined direction, `a pivoted ylock releasing member for each of said rotatable membersand adapted to bc actuated valves, and means set-in operation 'by the movement ofsaid actuating means in a direction to open one of said valves for holding said locking mechanism in inoperative position.'l f

13. In combination, a plurality of valves, actuating means therefor, locking mechanism fork preventing the operation of said means in` a direction to close said Valves,

l mechanism for said locking mechanism for releasing said locking mechanism upon the i actuation of one of said valves to open position.

15. In combination, a plurality of valves, actuating mechanisms for said valves, controlling means for said actuating mechanisms for preventing the operation of one of said mechanisms to close one of said valves unless one or more of the remaining valves is open, and means for rendering said controlling mechanisms inoperative.

16. In combination, a plurality of valves, actuating mechanisms for said valves, electrical controlling means for preventing the operation of one of said mechanisms to close one of said valves unless one or more of the remaining valves is open, and means for rendering said controlling means inoperative.

17. In combination, a plurality of valves, means for actuating each of said valves, a locking member for each of said actuating means, means including an electric circuit for turning said locking member out of locking position when one of said valves is opened, and means for controlling said circuit independently to render all of said locking members inoperative.

18. In combination, a plurality of valves, means for actuating each of said valves, an electric circuit, means controlled by said circuit and operative upon the closing of said circuit for regulating the operation of said.

means against movement in a direction to open said valves, an electric circuit including a plurality of solenoids, and means controlled by said solenoids and operative upon the closing of said circuit for regulating the operation of said locking means.

20. In combination, a plurality of valves, means for actuating each of said valves, an electric circuit including a plurality of solenoids and a plurality of switches, means controlled by said solenoids for regulating the operation of said actuating means, and

-means carried by said actuating means for operating said switches to close said circuit and energize said solenoids.

21. In combination, a plurality of valves, means for actuating each of said valves, an electric circuit, a plurality of switches in said circuit each switch being operable by one of said valve actuating means, and means included in said circuit for regulating the operation of said valve actuating means.

22. In combination, a plurality of valves, means for actuating each of said valves, an electric circuit, a plurality of solenoids connected in parallel in said circuit, a plurality of switches connected in parallel with each other and in series with said solenoid in said circuit, means controlled by said solenoids for locking said valve actuating means against movement, and means carried by each of said valve actuating means for 'closing said switches.

23. In combination, a plurality of valves, independent actuating means for each of said valves, said actuating means being movable in directions to open and close said valves, and means for preventing the movement of all of said actuating means at the same time in a direction to close said valves.

24C. In combination, a blower, a header connected thereto, a plurality of hot blast stoves, conduits leading from the header to each stove, a valve controlling each conduit, means for opening and closing the valves, and means for preventing the closing of a valve until another valve is opened.

25. In combination, a blower, a header connected thereto, a plurality of hot blast stoves, pipes leading from the header to each stove, a valve controlling each pipe, actuating means for the valves, and means cooperating with the actuating means for preventing the closing of an open valve until another valve shall have been opened.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures, in the presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses JOSEPH I. DooLnY, J. H. MACKENZIE. 

